Overview

In 1884, the Bureau of Labor was established in the Department of Interior. In 1888, it became an independent department for nearly 15 years before being incorporated into the Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903. In 1913, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was transferred to the newly created Department of Labor.

Below you will find links to a timeline and resources that cover various aspects of our 135+ year history.

Timeline

BLS History Timeline: A comprehensive timeline-by-decade highlighting major milestones in BLS history